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Infinite Space, Infinite God
Come explore the worlds of Infinite Space, Infinite God. Meet genetically engineered chimeras and aliens who wonder what a human religion holds for them. Share the doubts, trials and triumphs of humans who find their journeys in time and space are also journeys in faith. Experience spine-tingling adventure. Marvel at technological miracles--and miracles that transcend technology--and meet the writers who made a leap of faith and dared to incorporate familiar religion with fantastic universes. Entertaining and thought-provoking, Infinite Space, Infinite God represents the best in SF tradition. Faith-filled fiction for readers that think.
278 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
4 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Karina Lumbert Fabian
97 books107 followersKarina Fabian is a science fiction and fantasy writers, author of 16 novels, three anthologies, a devotional and many stories and articles. Her latest science fiction novel, Discovery, features religious sisters in space, and she’s working on rebooting her DragonEye series, which stars a snarky dragon working under the direction of the Church. She teaches writing and is an active member of the Catholic Writers Guild. http://fabianspace.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 12, 2015
An "okay" sci-fi collection, some holding my interest longer than others but none of them really standing out to me above the others. The Catholic elements in it are a bit simple for my taste but everything can't equal a Canticle for Leiboiwtz. I have the second collection but this doesn't lend me to pick it up and begin it.
September 1, 2021
I wouldn't say I'm a fan of science fiction, but I am a fan of Karina Fabian, so when she recommended that I read this anthology, I followed her advice. There are 15 different stories, set in different times and on different planets or in different solar systems. While each short story is generally well-written, a couple were too far out there for me to enjoy, but the rest were pretty compelling. I have to say, I liked Karina and Robert Fabian's stories the best because, for the most part, they involved human beings (or some variation of humans), so easier to relate to. If you want to dip your toe into the science fiction — particularly Catholic science fiction pool — I'd recommend this book as a place to start.
January 6, 2023
Religious-themed science fiction is not a new genre, from classics like A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr., to nearly anything from Gene Wolfe. One of the best known collections was edited by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley called Sacred Visions. Yet this new volume of 15 short stories in the genre of Catholic Science Fiction is a treat for the fan of either genres. The authors tackle themes of morality, science, and the role of religion in humanity's future in new and engaging ways.
The authors present a future where both the church and science play roles; both are integral to human development and human self -understanding. Yet occasionally the two do clash. Lori Z. Scott's The Harvest, about a colony on the moon, with a Doctor priest who tries to balance healing both the body and the soul is one example. But how do you minister to a soul in a cloned HuNome who was grown for organ transplant purposes? (HuNomes are sub-humans with animal gene splices to better prepare the organs for transplants and as labourers building our colonies in space.) Adrienne Ray's story Hopkins' Well about settlements on Mars, where the Military is trying to maintain control of the planet against crazy Catholics that are part of a larger group of Christians, is another example. The final selection is A Cruel and Unusual Punishment about the Sinn Fein, and a man who calls himself a soldier while most of the world considers him a terrorist. Written around the Stations of the Cross, it is a story of the death penalty and an alternative that may have been worse. It is one of the most powerful pieces. Each of the stations begins with a quote from famous authors: William Blake, Thomas Merton, Evelyn Waugh and others, tying this vision of the future to our past.
This collection is great for introducing a reader to a wide range of authors in a short breadth, some whose styles you will love, some you will not and some you will be undecided about. The advantage of such a collection is you can discover new authors whose writings you will wish to pursue in greater depth.
As such, this collection will be a treat to any fan of Science Fiction, a religious Catholic, or just someone interested in the questions of spirituality and our future as we move forward through the millennium.
The authors present a future where both the church and science play roles; both are integral to human development and human self -understanding. Yet occasionally the two do clash. Lori Z. Scott's The Harvest, about a colony on the moon, with a Doctor priest who tries to balance healing both the body and the soul is one example. But how do you minister to a soul in a cloned HuNome who was grown for organ transplant purposes? (HuNomes are sub-humans with animal gene splices to better prepare the organs for transplants and as labourers building our colonies in space.) Adrienne Ray's story Hopkins' Well about settlements on Mars, where the Military is trying to maintain control of the planet against crazy Catholics that are part of a larger group of Christians, is another example. The final selection is A Cruel and Unusual Punishment about the Sinn Fein, and a man who calls himself a soldier while most of the world considers him a terrorist. Written around the Stations of the Cross, it is a story of the death penalty and an alternative that may have been worse. It is one of the most powerful pieces. Each of the stations begins with a quote from famous authors: William Blake, Thomas Merton, Evelyn Waugh and others, tying this vision of the future to our past.
This collection is great for introducing a reader to a wide range of authors in a short breadth, some whose styles you will love, some you will not and some you will be undecided about. The advantage of such a collection is you can discover new authors whose writings you will wish to pursue in greater depth.
As such, this collection will be a treat to any fan of Science Fiction, a religious Catholic, or just someone interested in the questions of spirituality and our future as we move forward through the millennium.
April 20, 2010
Infinite Space, Infinite God, edited by Karian and Rob Fabian, is an anthology of Sci-Fi stories organized in seven chapters. Each chapter begins with an explanation of some Catholic issues with a brief summary of the stories and how the characters dealt with them. It is proper to mention that the reader needs to be prepared for a ride into a world beyond their imagination lead by a group of very crafty writers. Many of the stories have open ends, which makes me think the authors have a sequel or a series of stories in mind.
I have chosen several stories to tease your curiosity and encourage you to get a copy of the book, buckle up, and enjoy these adventures through space as you have never done before! To learn about the rest, go to http://isigsf.tripod.com.
The book cover, created by Kurt Ozinga, merged the concept of infinity between space and God above all. God is inside the Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic form of worship. The cover gives the reader a hint of the book’s content: Sci-Fi with a Catholic twist.
The story “Our Daily Bread,” written by the Fabians reflects the book cover. In this story the authors explained in a profound and eloquent manner the Catholic practice of Eucharist Adoration and the blessing that comes with this practice. The miracle of the multiplication of the breads and fishes is harmoniously woven in the story. It illustrates without a doubt the meaning of the phrase, “God always provides.”
Some stories incorporate futuristics and modern themes, such as human cloning, artificially creating humans for spare parts, colonization, missionary work, and government attitude toward religion. “Hopkins’s Well” is a fine example of military duty, teletransporting, and religious colonies on Mars. The open end makes you hope for a sequel since it gives you a glance at the after life with the Sci-Fi twist!
What do a “construct,” an artificial, a thief, and a detective priest as your ultimate P.I. have in common? A “construct” and an “artificial” are half-animal and half-human creatures created by human. Curious about it? Then I suggest you jump start your space travel experience and ride aboard the Coventry and join the crew on an intense mystery story on the “Mask of the Ferret.”
The consequences of religious fanaticism is the prime theme of the stories: The “Host of the Envoy” and “Understanding.” On the “Host of the Envoy,” Luke, the main character, finds himself lost in space and encounters a colony ship struggling to return home. He is perceived by the religious leader of the ship as the “One” who will save them and lead them back to Earth. The leader must be ready for a big surprise and at the end the reader will want more, more, and more!
“Understanding” takes you to the mind of a killer who is desperate and soaked with confusion and anger toward the Church, which once alienated him because he is genetically engineered. The end proclaims God’s unconditional love for all of us.
“Canticle of the Wolf ” is a twist to the status-quo of the big-cunning wolf story. It takes you to a world of time travel and anamorphosis.
The last two stories are a combination of spy work and conviction. “Far Traveler” shows how science experiments could end surprisingly if conducted by the wrong person. How far are we as a society are willing to go in the name of science? That question is properly addressed and answered in this story.
“A Cruel and Unusual Punishment” is the crowned jewel of the book. It is an up-to-date approach to the traditional station of the cross to reflect over the concept of death from the point of view of an inmate on death row. The story begins with the First Station and a quote from other writers and philosophers as a prelude to each situation on this story. It shows how personal conviction, sin, repentance, and redemption are all annulled by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
I have chosen several stories to tease your curiosity and encourage you to get a copy of the book, buckle up, and enjoy these adventures through space as you have never done before! To learn about the rest, go to http://isigsf.tripod.com.
The book cover, created by Kurt Ozinga, merged the concept of infinity between space and God above all. God is inside the Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic form of worship. The cover gives the reader a hint of the book’s content: Sci-Fi with a Catholic twist.
The story “Our Daily Bread,” written by the Fabians reflects the book cover. In this story the authors explained in a profound and eloquent manner the Catholic practice of Eucharist Adoration and the blessing that comes with this practice. The miracle of the multiplication of the breads and fishes is harmoniously woven in the story. It illustrates without a doubt the meaning of the phrase, “God always provides.”
Some stories incorporate futuristics and modern themes, such as human cloning, artificially creating humans for spare parts, colonization, missionary work, and government attitude toward religion. “Hopkins’s Well” is a fine example of military duty, teletransporting, and religious colonies on Mars. The open end makes you hope for a sequel since it gives you a glance at the after life with the Sci-Fi twist!
What do a “construct,” an artificial, a thief, and a detective priest as your ultimate P.I. have in common? A “construct” and an “artificial” are half-animal and half-human creatures created by human. Curious about it? Then I suggest you jump start your space travel experience and ride aboard the Coventry and join the crew on an intense mystery story on the “Mask of the Ferret.”
The consequences of religious fanaticism is the prime theme of the stories: The “Host of the Envoy” and “Understanding.” On the “Host of the Envoy,” Luke, the main character, finds himself lost in space and encounters a colony ship struggling to return home. He is perceived by the religious leader of the ship as the “One” who will save them and lead them back to Earth. The leader must be ready for a big surprise and at the end the reader will want more, more, and more!
“Understanding” takes you to the mind of a killer who is desperate and soaked with confusion and anger toward the Church, which once alienated him because he is genetically engineered. The end proclaims God’s unconditional love for all of us.
“Canticle of the Wolf ” is a twist to the status-quo of the big-cunning wolf story. It takes you to a world of time travel and anamorphosis.
The last two stories are a combination of spy work and conviction. “Far Traveler” shows how science experiments could end surprisingly if conducted by the wrong person. How far are we as a society are willing to go in the name of science? That question is properly addressed and answered in this story.
“A Cruel and Unusual Punishment” is the crowned jewel of the book. It is an up-to-date approach to the traditional station of the cross to reflect over the concept of death from the point of view of an inmate on death row. The story begins with the First Station and a quote from other writers and philosophers as a prelude to each situation on this story. It shows how personal conviction, sin, repentance, and redemption are all annulled by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
March 5, 2011
A couple of weeks ago, I was reading the Happy Catholic blog and discovered the author Karina Fabian. Through her website, I learned about the book she and her husband edited, Infinite Space, Infinite God. As a long-time fan of science fiction, I was very happy to find an anthology of Catholic science fiction - happy, but a little apprehensive. I was worried that it would be more catechesis-with-sci-fi-trappings than real quality sci-fi.
As it turns out, I enjoyed most of the stories very much, and was impressed by the quality of the science fiction - and in some cases by real spiritual depth (in this respect I particularly enjoyed "Brother Jubal in the Womb of Silence"). One story has some theological problems, but that is pointed out by the editors, and there are a few other minor things about which I (a "traditional"-leaning Catholic priest) would quibble about, like the long periods of time for which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in some stories... way beyond what would usually be allowed - and an error in the Latin spoken by a character at one point. However, the fact that these are the issues that catch my attention speaks volumes. It was a real pleasure to read good - at times, gripping, like the Mask of the Ferret or These Three - science fiction that explores how the Catholic faith might be lived in the future. The brief introductions and explanations by the editors are insightful and instructive as well.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction and is at least open to Catholicism. I hope to purchase and read the sequel soon.
As it turns out, I enjoyed most of the stories very much, and was impressed by the quality of the science fiction - and in some cases by real spiritual depth (in this respect I particularly enjoyed "Brother Jubal in the Womb of Silence"). One story has some theological problems, but that is pointed out by the editors, and there are a few other minor things about which I (a "traditional"-leaning Catholic priest) would quibble about, like the long periods of time for which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in some stories... way beyond what would usually be allowed - and an error in the Latin spoken by a character at one point. However, the fact that these are the issues that catch my attention speaks volumes. It was a real pleasure to read good - at times, gripping, like the Mask of the Ferret or These Three - science fiction that explores how the Catholic faith might be lived in the future. The brief introductions and explanations by the editors are insightful and instructive as well.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction and is at least open to Catholicism. I hope to purchase and read the sequel soon.
March 20, 2011
Nice selection of explicitly Catholic SF. All most all of the stories are worthwhile and projections of the Catholic faith in the future. One story involved a women priest and the introduction warned about this and gave the Church's correct teaching. The story itself was pretty good, just would have been better without this element that served no purpose for the plot.
Also many stories seemed to not make the distinction that all living creatures including plants have a soul, though humans have a rational soul. One story involved cloning and I though it was rather silly that it talked about the Church taking a while to determine if a cloned person could become a priest. Conception via IVF would not bar a person from the priesthood and artificial twinning (cloning) would not either.
But those are quibbles and I did enjoy the selection of stories.
Also many stories seemed to not make the distinction that all living creatures including plants have a soul, though humans have a rational soul. One story involved cloning and I though it was rather silly that it talked about the Church taking a while to determine if a cloned person could become a priest. Conception via IVF would not bar a person from the priesthood and artificial twinning (cloning) would not either.
But those are quibbles and I did enjoy the selection of stories.
April 27, 2011
This is a very good collection of Catholic SF. The best stories are reprints from well known SF magazines and worthy additions to any collection. Unfortunately, my liking of the collection was marred by one story that I found to be too protestantized form of Catholicism to be believable to me. I understand including it for the 'what if' type aspect, I think it could have been handled a lot better. Ignoring this story, I would recommend this collection to any Catholic SF fans and those that don't mind a bit of Catholicism with their SF.
October 15, 2012
The story Stabat Mater is what kept me from giving this book a 5 star rating. This story was good but it could have been great. This could have been a great story about trusting God but instead it was simply a well written story sending the message that God can't be trusted. This story is
November 19, 2008
Interview with the author at SF Gospel:
http://sfgospel.typepad.com/sf_gospel...
http://sfgospel.typepad.com/sf_gospel...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews